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View Poll Results: It´s wrong to shoplift but is software different? - what´s your opinion?
It´s OK to copy software, the company is rich. 1 4.35%
It´s not OK to copy software, but I´ve done in on occasion. 8 34.78%
It´s not OK to copy software - those that do should be prosecuted. 5 21.74%
All software should be free. 5 21.74%
Never copy software - if the company goes bankrupt, they can´t write more programs that we like. 4 17.39%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

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Apr 21st, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

Quote originally posted by Patate ...
The thing is that if software wasn't that expensive, people wouldn't have to copy them. So in a way it's kind of their fault. Not everyone can afford to pay a few hundred bucks for Windows for EACH computer they have.
But companys mainly make their money of other companys wanting licences to their software anyways.
Wrong. I've encountered pirated copies of freeware. People actually removing copyright information and the name of the original authors from freeware programs and distributing them as their own (often asking money for them).

If you buy a computer, factor in the cost of software. If you can afford more than one computer you're not a penniless student (who can get discount educational licenses) anyway.
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duckman
jwenting is offline Offline
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Apr 21st, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

Quote originally posted by zeroth ...
The attitudes about stealing software are amazing - do you have an opinion?
Software piracy should be treated like piracy at the high seas. Keelhauling is to good for the criminals!

People scream foul about shoplifting yet casually steal tens of thousands of Euros worth of software.

When confronted with their crimes they claim noone is hurt because software doesn't cost anything anyway and they're "only punishing large corporations for overcharging"...
This attitude prevails even among many who work in the industry and make their own income from creating software that is sold, making the situation even worse (and harder to understand, these people make money creating something they say doesn't cost anything to create).
Worst of all: I've seen many requests on usenet for pirated copies of software to create copy protection and for commercial compilers, often in official support groups for those products...
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duckman
jwenting is offline Offline
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Apr 21st, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

Quote originally posted by Catalana ...
It shouldn't be copied, but all of us have done it I think!
Not for the last 20 years, and even before that only software that wasn't available in any other way (that was before the internet and online stores, with the only computer store in town having maybe 5 titles).
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duckman
jwenting is offline Offline
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Apr 24th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

I think Bill Gates could afford to give away software for home PCs.

As said before- these companies make their money from corporate America.

But they will squeeze us little guys for every cent they can get away with. You squeeze a penny or maybe $200 for each copy of Windows that you sell to the home PC user and it adds up to millions in profits each and every year.

Nope, I don't have a problem with copying software at all.
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chrisharris is offline Offline
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Apr 25th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

Quote originally posted by chrisharris ...
I think Bill Gates could afford to give away software for home PCs.

As said before- these companies make their money from corporate America.

But they will squeeze us little guys for every cent they can get away with. You squeeze a penny or maybe $200 for each copy of Windows that you sell to the home PC user and it adds up to millions in profits each and every year.

Nope, I don't have a problem with copying software at all.
Well that is the whole concept of our economic system in America. I mean, if you were in Bill Gates position, Im sure you would try and get every cent out of every person you possible could.

Its all about bending people over and screwing them, there is a legal way, and an illegal way. You could make arguments for both sides, but if your going the illegal route, the odds are stacked against you.
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moderate_rock48 is offline Offline
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since Nov 2004
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Apr 25th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

Hello all.

Ok to be truthful 55/9% of all my software is not legel, As Adobe wants you to pay $699.99 for Adobe photoshop 7 and more for cs and Now even more for CS2

Macromedia, Is not that badily priced but when they came out with there Macromedia Mx Professional Crap they jack the prices up sky high..

So Yes I would blow smoke up someone A$$ just to get Free Software that I need or Wanted to learn.


Peace out,
Michael
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SuperFlyHost is offline Offline
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since Apr 2005
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Apr 25th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

If you can't afford the price, use a cheaper alternative...
There's PSP, Gimp, etc. etc.

Theft is theft also if it's "because I need it and can't afford it".
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duckman
jwenting is offline Offline
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Apr 26th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

I personnaly think that the majority of people who copy software, not so much that they can't afford it but really need it, but can't be bothered to pay the price.

I'm quite proud of the fact that on my two PCs, all my software is legit, (excluding a possible dodgy copy of Studio MX I bought from Amazon). I wanted office on my laptop, and despite being easily able to nick it from work being a network administrator, used open office instead. People can easily get linux for PCs, and XP OEM is not that expensive, if you build your own, or even free with new PCs.

I have got the ocasional pirated software and CDs, videos back in the day, but wouldn't do so now. Just because it's easy doesn't make it acceptable. The owner of BMW is no doubt a rich guy, and the cars in this country are overpriced, but that doesn't mean I can take a M3 off a forecourt, (unfortunately).
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MartyMcFly is offline Offline
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since Feb 2005
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Apr 26th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

Well said Marty, and my opinion exactly.

If you can't afford or can't be bothered to pay the price for highend software use a free or cheaper alternative.

I work in software development myself.
My company does provide staff with corporate licenses for many packages we have at work, so we can get them free or cheap. Similarly for students and educational staff educational licenses cover the same ground, offering them cheap access to high end software they may need (usually the same software used in classes and labs).
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jwenting is offline Offline
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Apr 27th, 2005
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Re: Opinion on Software Theft

I don't get it. They sue people for downloading songs which cost 1$ a piece, but there is server software on P2P networks worth 6-10,000$.
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This thread is more than three months old

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